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EHD in Iowa

Fishbonker

Fishbonker

Life Member
The IBA sent out an email today saying EHD had been found in captive deer herds in SE Iowa. The email also stated there has been several dead deer found in the Chariton River in Lucas County. It also asked that if you find dead deer (without obvious trauma) to call your CO. I assume so the DNR can track the outbreak.
 
goatman said:
Dang. I thought it only showed its ugly face in dry weather.
Click to expand...

I think there is some potential for EHD every year...but much, much worse in dry years where the ponds and creeks shrink up and expose mud flats, etc.

I can't believe that whatever is being found this year is anywhere near the level of 2012 and 2013. But, I would not doubt that there are "pockets" every year.

I do also think with the advent of scouting cameras and websites like this one...that we "know" A LOT more about these events than we did 10 or more years ago. So I think there is a much higher awareness and "sharing" factor these days when something does happen in nature.
 
I would think that anytime the conditions are right for a bumper crop of mosquitos it would equal a bumper crop of midges. Although not concentrated in the remaining pools of water of a typical late summer, many more smaller bodies of water have been created by all of the steady rains. Hopefully this is not a worse scenario than a dry year.
 
Bump.. Anyone seeing anything?
We have found a few in northern Wayne County. Not saying it is EHD but it about has to be. Also a couple of our bigger bucks have ghosted for the last month now when they were showing up consistently. Understand a lot of things could take them out of their previous pattern but the activity is suspicious at best. Hoping they show up in the next couple of pulls...
 
I've never seen a year without finding at least one or 2 ehd deaths. I think drought years could possibly wipe out "half a herd" in bad cases or have huge impact. In good rain years- sure doesn't mean a midge can't hatch & bite. I am 99% sure the 2 fatalities I found last sept by a pond were ehd. Not certain but I'm sure ehd can still exist in rain years- just a far less %. I hunted KS where I saw 3-4 years of drought. Bad. I'm gonna guess the deer #'s went down by 80% over that timeframe when I was there over those years. Sounds like it's fully rebounded since those years ago. Montana is another place that has huge swings from ehd death. Sucks.
 
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